Potato-digger



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. P. LETSGH.

PoTATo BIGGER.

No. 320,369. lmmmmmm@A 16. 1885.

ff ATTORNEYS.

(Np Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2. W. P. LETS'CH.

POTATO BIGGER. No. 320,369. PatentedJune 16, 1885.

l- E M3 WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

ithvirsn Starts Ferarri* Ori-rica.

IVILLIAM F. LETSOH, OF CARBON OLIFF, ILLINOIS.

POTATO- DlGGEFt.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,359, dated June 16, 1885.

Application filed llai'cli 27, 1885.

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM Il'. LE'isGH, a citizen ofthe United States, and a resident of Carbon Cliff, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato Dig gers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usc the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improved potato-digger. Figz 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the saine. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. Ll'is a top view, and Fig. 5 is a detail view, in perspective and on alarger scale, of a portion of the operating mechanism of my improved potatodig ger. Fig. Gis a different view of the same with a part broken away.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the tigures.

This invention relates to potatodiggers; and it has for its object to produce a device of this class which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

IVith these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the frame of the machine, which consists of a transverse bar, B, the ends of which are provided with downwardly-extending lugs O C, forming boxes or bearings for the axle D. The ends of the frame-bar are also provided with rearwardly-extending brackets E E.

Ii is the tongue,which is secured to the frame by means of the curved supports Gr, having holes H, through which passes the axle D.

I is a lever or handle secured to one side of the tongue, the lower end of which is connected with the frame-beam B by means of the bent arm J.

L is a segmental rack provided with notches, in which a catch, K, engages.

The ends of the axle D are provided with transporting-wheels M M, mounted loosely (No model.)

thereon, and provided on their inner sides with spring-clutches of suitable construction, whereby they may be connected with the spurwhcels N N, which are fixed upon the axle. By this construction provision is made for conveniently tuiniiig the machine, while, when the machine moves forwardly over the iield, the spur-wheels N will revolve with the transporting-wheels, thereby conveying motion to the operating parts, as will be presently more fully described. The rear'ends of the brackets E E are provided with bearings for a pair of short shafts, O O, the ends of which carry pinions P P, meshing with and operated by the spiir-wheels N N. At F' F', upon the inner sides of the brackets E E, is pivoted a suitably-construeted scoop, P', having a for wardiy-exteiiding bail, Q, to which the draft may be attached, and provided at its rear corners with rearwardly -extending brackets lt R, each of which has two downwardly-extending arms, S S. By means of the lever I the beam Bis drawn forward and the brackets lil E correspondingly elevated, and with them the scoop P', thus affording a simple and efficient means for adjusting the machine to different depths.

The rear ends of the brackets R It are provided with latorally-extending frames 'l T, affording bearings for shorttransverse shafts U U, the outer ends of which are provided with cranks V V, connected by pivoted rods or pitmen WT IV, with wrist-pins X X upon the outer sides of the pinioiis l) P, from which an oscillating or rocking motion is thus conveyed to the shafts U U.

Y Y are a pair of balls or suitably-construeted frames, the legs Z Z at the ends of which are litted to slide vertically upon -the outer sides of the arms S S, extending downwardly from the brackets It It of the scoop. The ends of the legs Z Z are provided with diagonal cross-bars A', to the ends of which are pivoted grooved rollers B', fitting against the edges of 'the arms S, thus retaining the bails or frames Y Y in position and guiding them in their vertically-reciprocating motion upon the arms S S. 'lhe frames Y Y are provided with rearwardly-extending lingers C', raised slightly above said frames by means ot' shortarnis D', and arranged alternately upon the two frames, as shown. The said lingers IOO are flat on top, as shown, and they serve, when the frames upon which they are mounted are reciprocated alternately in opposite directions, to screen the potatoes and separate them from the dirt.

It will be observed that the guide-pulleys B of each carrying-frame being located at different levels, or in different horizontal planes, there is no obstacle to the elevation of the rear ends of the screening-nn gers, which will, in fact, be vibrated freely by the joltin g of the machine in passing over the ground, and they will the more readily pass over any obstruction that may be encountered.

A seat, E', for the driver is to be suitably mounted upon the tongue, near the rear end of the latter.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood.

By means of the adjusting-lever I the scoop, with its attachments, may be set so as to be simply carried by the. machine, or so as to work at any desired depth. When the scoop is set to work, the dirt and potatoes will be together raised or elevated by it, and slide over it, tnally dropping upon the lingers of the vertieally-reciprocatin g frames Y Y, whereby they are screened, the dirt falling through between the lingers and the potatoes rolling oft' at the rear ends ofthe same, being thus deposited upon the surface ot' the ground in a row, so that they may be easily gathered.

The construction of the machine is simple and inexpensive, and it is exceedingly durable, and not liable to get outof order.

Havingthus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States- 1. In a potato-digger, the combination ot a transverse frame-beam having rearwardly-eze tending brackets and downwardly-extending journal-boxes, the revolving axle mounted in the latter, means for adjusting the frame and its attachments upon or with relation to the axle, a scoop mounted pivot-ally between the rearwardly-extending brackets of the framebeam, and. having rearward-extending brackets at its rear corners, provided with down wa-rdly-extendin g arms, vertically-reciprocating frames mounted to slide upon the said arms and equipped with rearwardly-extending lingers, and suitable operating mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a potatodigger, the combination, with the herein-described adjustable frame, of the pivoted scoop having rearwardly-extending brackets provided with downwardly-extending arms, bails or frames provided at their ends with diagonal cross-pieces, having grooved rollers arranged at different levels, and engaging the edges of said arms, fingers mounted upon and extending rearwardly from said bails or frames, and mechanism for reciprocating the latter vertically, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the adjustable frame having rearwardly-extending brackets, pinions journaled to the latter, and arranged to be operated by suitable spur-wheels, the pivo'ted scoop having rearwardly-extending brackets, rock-shafts journaled in the latter, and having cranks connected by pivoted rods or pitmen, with wrist-pins upon the pinions, bails or frames having rearwardly-extending lingers, and provided with inclined crosspieces, having grooved-rollers located in dit'- ferent horizontal planes, and bearing upon the edges cfa-rms extendin g-downwardl y from the brackets of the scoop, and pivoted rods or pitmen connecting the said bails or frames with the ends of arms or cross-bars mounted upon the rock-shafts, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aflxed my signature in presence of two witnesses.-

WILLIAM F. LETSCH.

Witnesses:

Unas. Gr. CARLSON, AUGUST KLEBE. 

